Following Her Own Code: A Journey in Computer Science
When Paola Benavides Pena stepped onto the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), she wasn鈥檛 just observing the fast-paced world of finance, she was discovering a new vision for her future
Posted in: Students
The visit, organized as part of an opportunity for Computer Science Students at 精品成人福利在线 University, allowed her to see firsthand how computer science operates at the core of the financial system. As she walked across the NYSE floor, she quickly realized it would not function without software engineers.
The exchange wouldn鈥檛 work without them. Losing time means losing money.
What surprised her most was learning that software engineers in finance are not constantly building flashy new programs. Instead, much of their responsibility involves maintaining and improving existing systems. They must understand multiple programming languages and ensure that critical infrastructure runs efficiently and without interruption. For Paola, this shifted her perspective entirely.
You don鈥檛 always need to create new things. Sometimes you restore old things and make them more efficient.
Before this experience, she had never seriously considered the finance side of technology. Though she admits feeling nervous about stepping into a new space, the trip expanded her career aspirations. She was especially interested in the engineers鈥 daily routines, what languages they use, what problems they solve, and how their roles sustain such a high-stakes environment.
The experience also reinforced a notion she strongly believes, networking matters. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not what you know, it鈥檚 who you know,鈥 she says, emphasizing the importance of building relationships with classmates, professors, and professionals who share similar interests.
That openness to opportunity reflects Paola鈥檚 broader academic journey. As she prepares to graduate with her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Computer Science from 精品成人福利在线 University, she looks back on a path defined by persistence, courage, and a fundamental belief that knowledge is power.
She also emphasizes something she believes is critical in technical fields, 鈥淒efinitely ask for help,鈥 she says. 鈥淓ven if people don鈥檛 look like you.鈥 In a field where women are still underrepresented, she is acutely aware of the disparity, and motivated by it.
I would like to be the change-maker. I hope to be a trailblazer.
Her courage stems from her upbringing. Paola鈥檚 family came to the United States from Colombia, and built their life from the ground up. She understands the feelings of not belonging, but instead of shrinking in those moments, she leaned in,
Anything I鈥檝e wanted to do, I鈥檝e done
For Paola, the message is clear: Stay curious, build connections, keep trying, and above all, remember that knowledge is power.